Impact-generated atmospheric plumes: The threat to satellites in low-earth orbit
Computational simulations of the impacts of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 (SL9) fragments on Jupiter provide a framework for interpreting the observations. A reasonably consistent picture has emerged, along with a more detailed understanding of atmospheric collisional processes. The knowledge gained from the observations and simulations of SL9 has led us to consider the threat of impact-generated plumes to satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO). Preliminary simulations suggest that impacts of a size that recur about once per century on Earth generate plumes that rise to nearly 1000 km over an area thousands of km in diameter. Detailed modeling of such plumes is needed to quantify this threat to satellites in LEO. Careful observations of high-energy atmospheric entry events using both satellite and ground- based instruments would provide validation for these computational models.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 225043
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-96-0332C; CONF-9606105-1; ON: DE96006336
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Space `96: 5. international conference and exposition on engineering, construction, and operations in space and 2. specialty conference on Robotics for challenging environments (RCE-II), Albuquerque, NM (United States), 1-6 Jun 1996; Other Information: PBD: [1996]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Impact-generated atmospheric plumes: Observations on Jupiter and implications for Earth
Showmaker-Levy 9 and plume-forming collisions on Earth